Combination parachute harness



4 May 10, 1932. EL. HOFFMAN COMBINATION .PARACHUTE HARNESS 2 Shets-Sheet' 1 Filed June 14. 1930 May- 10, 1932. E. HOFFMAN COMBINATION PARACHUTE HARNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed June 14, 1950 INVENTOR EDMRD LHorr-Mmv 'Paiented May 10, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION PARACHUTE HARNESS Application filed 1m 14, 1930. Sefial No. 461,191.

2, a seat type pack 11 and a back type pack 12. The harness comprises essentially a suspension rigging which consists of main lift webs or riser straps 13 and 14, of which there are eight in number, four for each type of pack used, and which are divided into pairs as shown in Fig. 1 two pairs being used for each type of pack used. Each individual riser strap is secured to the suspension lines of their respective parachute by means of suitable connector rings 15 and 16 respectively. It will be noted that the suspension lines of each parachute are divided into a plurality of groups in the present instance, as aforementioned, there being four in each group of suspension lines having their lower ends fastened to the connector rings in a manner clearly shown. Before the opening of the parachute the lift webs extend into their respective packs in which the parachutes are folded as indicated in Fig. 2.

Each main lift web is made of two-ply fabric material or webbing of double thickness which emerge in pairs from adjacent corners of their respective packs as shown, forming a top and bottom lift strap respectively. Each pair of lift straps, as will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings,

pass up the wearers back and over the shoulders,- at which point they are threaded through oblong shoulder adapter rings 18 and 19 respectively. The main lift webs of the seat pack designated by numerals 20 and 21 are thereafter passed downwardly at the front and sides of the chest of the aviator to a point adjacent the hips.- The lift straps of each pair are separated at this point, each top and bottom stra extending inwardly and under the legs 0 the aviator as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each top strap 20 is of greater length than its correlated bottom strap and terminates in one member 22 of a separable fastener to form one portion of the leg strap. The bottom strap of each lift web is formed witha looped end 23 adapted to receive the top strap of its opposite correlated leg strap in the manner shown, to form a seat support adapted to sustain the weight of the aviator.

Back straps 24 and 25 are provided, which are connected at their upper ends to the shoulder adapter rings 18 and 19 respectively. The left back strap designated by numeral 24 is connected to the left shoulder adapter ring 18, thence extending diagonally downward across the back of the aviator where it passes around the outside of-the opposite lift web 13, loops through the inner and outer ply of the top strap 20 and continues downward, where it is threaded through the female member 26 of the separable fastener heretofore mentioned, forming a looped end, and thence returning around the lift web and laterally, across the back of the wearer above the hips where it is threaded through an adjusting ner is connected to the opposite shoulder-- adapter ring 19, extends diagonally down-- ward across the back to the outside of the opposite main lift web in the same manner as described for the left back strap, threaded through the male member 29 of a second sepa rable fastener and thence returns around the main lift web, thereafter being connected to the central bar 30 of the adjusting fitting 27, heretofore mentioned. It will thus be seen that by adjusting the length of the back straps to fit the wearers body a simultaneous adjustment of each leg strap is obtained.

Threaded to the main lift webs 13 and 14 by means of loops sewed at their ends are chest straps 32 and 33 so arranged that the looped portions referred to may be slid u or down on the lift webs to adjust for the di ferences in height of different aviators. The chest straps are provided with male and female members 34 and 35 of a'separable fastener adapter to connect the straps. across the chest of'the wearer.

Intermediate the main lift webs on either side of the harness are sewed reinforced loops are-provided for securing the plates together.

In attaching the lift straps 38 to the harness body, the lower machine screw is passed through the loop 36 provided in the main lift straps, the upper bolt serving as a means for securing the lift strap 38 thereto, as shown in Figs 5 and 6. In so doing therisers 37 and 38 are first fpassed through the-rings '18 and 19.0n top 0 the risers for the seat pack and thereafter threaded through the loops 39 of the breast straps heretofore mentioned.

The back pack may be further secured to the barn ss by means of an auxiliary strap 40 secured o the end of the pack. This auxiliary strap is provided at either end with loops 41 through which the thighstrapsof the harness are passed, the foregoing serving the purpose of retaining the pack to the harness after the parachute is released.

The'rip cord and handle 42 of the seat pack may be secured to the harness in any conventional manner as shown in Fig. 2, while the rip cord and handle 43 of the back pack is passed beneath the left rear riser strap of the seat pack and carried around the left shoulder and secured to the main left strap.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction'forcarrying limited to the precise detail of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope 'of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what "I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parachute body harness comprising a double set of main lift straps, eachset adapted for attachment to an individual parachute pack, one of said sets of main lift straps ineluding means adapted for ready-attachment to or detachment from said body harness to provide a double parachute pack arrangement.

2. A parachute bodyharness comprising a double set of main lift straps, one set adapted for attachment to a back type parachute pack and the other set adapted for attachment to a seat type parachute pack respectively,

said first-mentioned set including means adapted for ready attachment to or detachment from said body harness to provide a double parachute packarrangement.

3. A parachute body harness comprising a double set of main lift straps, one set adapted for attachment to a back type parachute pack and the other set adapted for attachment to a seat type parachute pack respectively, so constructed and arranged as to provide a double parachute pack arrangement, one set of lift straps being readily attachable to or detachable from said harness.

4. In apparatus ofthe class described, in combination, a single parachute body harness having main supporting straps adapted to support the body of an aviator, a parachute pack connected to saidharness, and means including a set of auxiliarysupporting straps d t d f e d attachment to or. detachap e or r a y I rality of main 11ft straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a parac ute,

ment from said main sup orting straps for readily attaching or detac ing an emergency pack thereto to provide a double pack arrangement.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a parachute body harness having main supporting straps adapted to support the body chute pack connected to sand straps, and means including a'set of auxiliary supporting straps cooperating with said main supporting straps for readily attaching or detaching a back type parachute pack thereto whereby to provide a single and/or combination seat and back type pack arrangement in the manner and for the purpose described. g

6. A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a'parachute, the lower endof-eachpair of lift straps terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap,

of an aviator, a seat type parafor the aviator,

resplectively, so constructed and arranged wit respect to one another, to form a seat support for the wearer.

A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for, attachment to a parachute seat strap thereby to form a seat support for the wearer. I v

8. A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a parachute at their upper ends, each pair of lift straps terminating at their lower ends in a leg strap, and a seat strap respectively, the le strap of each pair being yieldably connecte to the opposite seat strap whereby to form a seat support adjustable to the seat of the wearer.

9. A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a parachute at their upper ends, each pair of lift straps and a seat strap having a looped ortion, the

- leg strap of each pair'being threa ed through the looped portion of the opposite seat strap to provide a seat supportadjustable to the seat of the wearer. r

10. parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a parachute, each pair of lift straps extending in front of the chest of the aviator and terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap respectively,

the leg strap of each pair being connectedto the o posite seat strap to form a seat support for t e wearer, and ody supporting means comprisingstraps adjustablyconnectedto said mainlift straps to compensate for differ ence in stature of different aviators.

11. A parachute harness comprising a pl uport for the aviator, and chest straps connect-' ed to said lift strap having fastening means thereon to permit said straps being joined together across the aviators chest to secure him within said harness.

12. A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a parachute, each pair of lift straps extending in front of the chest of the aviator and terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap respectively, the leg strap of each pair being connected to the opposite seat'strap to provide a seat support a plurality of back straps the legs of the aviator.

13. A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment to a parachute, each pair of lift straps extending in front of the chest of the aviator and terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap respectively, v

the leg strap of each pair being connected to the'opposite seat strap to provide a seat support for the aviator, a plurality of back straps connected to the upper portion of said main comprising lift straps, each back strap extending diagonally across the Wearers back and'terminating in thigh straps adapted to be connected to said leg straps and a single adjusting means interconnecting the ends of each of said thigh straps to simultaneously adjust said leg straps to an'ators of different stature.

14. A parachute harness comprising a plu rality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and'adapted for attachment to a parachute, each pair of lift straps extending in front of the chest of the aviator and terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap respectively, the leg strap of each pair being connected to the opposite seat strap to provide a seat support for theaviator, a plurality of back straps connected to the upper portion of said main lift straps, each back strap extending diagonally across the wearers back and terminating in thigh straps adapted to be connected to said leg straps, and a single adjusting means interconnecting each of 'said thigh straps to simultaneously adjust the leg strap and back straps to compensate for the difference in stature of different aviators.

15. A parachute harness comprising a plurality of main lift straps arranged in pairs, adapted for attachment to the parachute, the,

lower end of each pair of lift straps terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap respectively and cooperating With one another to form a seat support for an aviator, and means auxiliary be readily detachably secured to said main lift straps to permit of the ready attachment or detachment- 'of an emergency parachute.

16. A parachute harness comprising a plu rality of main lift straps arranged in pairs and adapted for attachment tothe parachute, each pair of lift straps terminating in a leg strap and a seat strap respectively, and cooperating with one another; to form a seat support for an aviator,-and adapter means readily attachably and detachably connected to said harness for securing an emergency 7 back parachute thereto.

17. A parachute harness comprising a plulift straps adapted to erating with one another to form a seat support for an aviator, and adapter means for EDWARD L. HOFFMAN.

attaching an emergency parachute to the lift 

